The Way

08Jul

Titus stirred in his bed, opened his eyes, and yawned. He sat up and looked out of the window. The sun had just risen, and their was a cool, gentle breeze flowing through the air. It was a beautiful day. “How wonderful that Petronius turned up yesterday”, Titus said to himself. “He looked aglow with something I haven’t seen in him before. I could hardly believe it when he started talking about a man who could heal leprosy. And yet he seemed convinced it was true!” Titus couldn’t really remember what had happened next, but he seemed to recall hearing a voice, a still small voice, telling him to believe the Truth. To believe. “And I do believe, I really do!”, he now thought silently. “It is true!” Yet, Titus felt sad. Why did Felix and Spurius have to be so against the Truth?

“Soldiers: Titus Sabinus, Demetrius Magnus, and Felix Albinus report to the training school for morning exercise before your military discipline training”, barked Spurius Tiberius, the Roman Centurion. “Yes Sir!”, responded the soldiers heartily, and for once Spurius was pleased with them. Titus’ good friend, Demetrius, asked him for an update on general news of the empire. “There’s a bit of an uproar near Jerusalem,”Titus informed him. “By the gods Titus, how do you know that? Jerusalem is on the other side of the empire!” Demetrius exclaimed. “Ah, it’s just knowledge my friend. The uproar….. ” “Stop chatting and get a move on will you!”, Spurius cut him short. “Thats the third time I’ve caught you bone idle! I won’t have it! You shall be shipped to Israel for a week were you can contemplate your laziness. After that, you can come back here and work twice as hard! Felix, you can go to. You haven’t exactly been busy either. I’m coming too so that I can keep an eye on you all.” “Yes Sir”, said the three men, feeling rather subdued. Spurius hadn’t finished. “The ship shall leave for Jerusalem in six hours, and you had better be ready to board it!” Titus, Felix and Demitrius marched away towards the harbour. “Hey Titus”, Demitrius said, “We might get to see this uproar you were talking about.” “I was thinking the same thing!”, Titus replied.

“Well, we’re here!”, Spurius said to his soldiers. They had sailed across the Great Sea and had walked inland to Capernaum. “See that house on the hill? That’s mine for the week. Yours is the brown hut near it.” Suddenly, a great throng closed in all around them. Helplessly lost in it, they tried to walk to a clearer place in the middle, and, with much effort, they reached their destination. In the clearing, a little apart from the rest of the crowd, stood a man who appeared to be talking to the huge multitude. At that moment, some Jewish elders broke through the crowd and began engaging the man in conversation. Titus began to wonder excitedly if this man could be the one Petronius was talking about. He listened carefully to what the man and the elders were saying. ” Master, Master,” the elders were saying, “A Roman Centurion, Julius by name,” Spurius mouth fell open. “Titus!”, he said, “Julius is that mad man who believes in the Great Healer!” “Sshh!”, Titus quietened him, “Listen to what they’re saying!” “Julius has sent us to ask you to heal his servant”, the elders said, “The servant, Tadius, is at the point of death. I beg you Jesus, please, heal him!

Jesus decided to go with the elders, but as he drew near to the house, Julius sent friends to him, saying, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am a man not worthy to have you come under my roof. Just say the word, and let my servant be healed. When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him and, turning to the crowd said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. His servant his healed.”

“I do not believe it!”, Spurius shouted, “I’m going straight to Julius’ house! Healed! Rubbish! He began to walk rapidly towards the house with Titus, Demetrius, and Felix close behind. When they arrived, they beat hard on the door. “Julius!” Spurius cried, “Open up! It’s me, Spurius.” There was a sound from within and who else but Tadius, Julius’ servant, opened the door! Spurius paled in shock, then, all of a sudden, a new radiance gleamed from him and all new that he had found the only Way, the Truth, and the Life.

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